Tahomaru (Dororo2019) and Taichi (Chihayafuru)
I’ve been obsessed with these characters for a while now, and loking for a pattern here I couldn’t help but notice similarities between them - the important similarities that basically shape their entire personalities. There are quite a few! Just look. (Spoilers ahead!)
(the collage is my old fanarts)
- Both have their important person’s attention stolen by some distant guy. The important person is his mother in Tahomaru’s case; his childhood friend/crush in Taichi’s case.
- No matter what they do, the said guy is always that bit stronger (brother-enemy for Tahomaru, friend-enemy for Taichi).
- Both are harboring feelings of jealousy and animosity while trying to be (and essentially being) nice boys.
- Both “go to the Dark Side” while pursuing the strength to beat the one guy.
- Both break their ties with the important person in the process (Taichi abandoning Chihaya and avoiding her; Tahomaru refusing to visit his mother and ceasing interactions with her.)
- Both face the inevitability of doom despite their best efforts (domain collapsing in ruins for Tahomaru; spending his whole youth and not getting there for Taichi.)
- Both care for other people a lot.
- Both are clever strategists who use their wits to solve problems.
- Both are the coolest boys in their circle (the heir, first in martial arts / first in the school in sports and academics, the popular handsome guy), both are blessed with status, wealth, good upbringing and are somewhat pampered in this sense, yet both have problematic relationship with their mothers and work hard to prove themselves.
- Both ultimately return to the Light side after having been defeated but acknowledged by their enemy, and both commit a symbolic seppuku (by accepting the ultimate defeat and returning the eyes / apologizing for standing in his way)
- Both start with Ta :D
Is it such a wonder they both evoke such a heart-wrenching feeling in me?
(Chihayafuru isn’t finished yet, but i don’t want the same lousy ending for Taichi, pls sensei. No.)
